steering and suspension Help with suspension rattle

[mvliotta]

My car has developed a sort of rattle near/at the front right wheel. It sounds like something is loose when going over bumpy roads at low speeds. Here are some pics. Everything looks pretty warn, but tied together as far as I can tell. Any ideas of where I should focus my attention?

 

Thanks,

Vince

 

 

[Mike87]

Check the locking collar for the strut insert. It might be loose.

[jgerock]

Adding to Mike's reply, check all hardware for looseness. Make sure you check the brake caliper mounting bolts to the spindle too.

['76mintgrün'02]

There is very little clearance between the spring cap and the bottom of the strut mounts and I was getting interference when I swapped longer bolts into mine, to install a strut brace.

 I could hear slight knocking sounds, also on the passenger side, (coincidentally).  The spring cap tends to mushroom up over time, which decreases already tight gaps.

 

It is pretty tight trying to reach up in there with the weight on the wheels, but you may be able to jack up the car and let the wheel hang, so you can put some tape on top of the cap; then take a test drive and check the tape afterwards.

 

Maybe you can let the wheel hang and see if the bottom of the mount bolt head is shiny from contact... that would be simple.

 

Or, you could remove the three bearing mount nuts and lower the strut assembly to look at the top of the cap and see if it is scuffed from the bolts.  You will need to remove the bracket that holds the brake hoses to the strut tube, if you want to lower it very far.  It is possible to swap the strut mounts by pulling the assembly down and out, under the fender, with the lower end still connected; but it is tight.

 

I had replaced my strut mounts and they were apparently made with different rubber, as in, the right pooched up more than the left, which exacerbated the problem.  If I ever have it apart again I will beat the caps back to flat in the middle.

 

How old are your strut mounts?

[mvliotta]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

 

Nothing seems loose underneath. I jacked up the car and took the following shots. Anything look odd to you?

 

I may go with Mintgrun's suggestions re: tape. The strut mounts are at least 10 years old, but not sure as I purchased the car a year ago.

 

[ScottCLo]

Jack the car up and put a big pry bar or pipe/2x4 under the tire. move it up and down a little. see what moves. pay close attention to strut. Is there any play in the strut insert? If so tighten the collar. Is the spring tight in the strut? Check both sides even if you think you know what side its coming from.  Have someone stand outside the car and listen to where its coming from.

 

Check things other than the suspension. Is the hood/bonnet secured tight? The stops could be miss adjusted and the hood could be flopping up and down. is the bumper hitting the body? Are the headlights falling out?

[Mike Self]

Sway bar links and/or mounting bushings.  Yours appear to be rubber and original.  When they wear, the metal links and washers will hit the swaybar and make noise.  Suggest replacing with urethane--the one place where urethane bushings won't stiffen up the car's ride.   

 

mike

[AceAndrew]

Vince,  I suggest you use the search function.  This has been covered many times.

 

Here's a pertinent thread from earlier this month.... Good luck with your hunt!

 

 

Edited September 19, 2016 by AceAndrew

[mvliotta]

Well, the FAQ wins again!

 

I jacked the car up and replicated the sound with a pipe pried under the tire as suggested here. It was coming from immediately around the tire.

 

It turns out that..... the strut locking collar was loose. So tightened that up with a big 'ol pipe wrench and voila!

 

I guess I could have figured this one out by myself, but isn't much more fun to play 'who can fix it'? Thanks so much for all those that replied and patiently guided me along. Don't think I would be able to hold on to this car without this site.

 

Cheers!

Vince